Fastening device



Jan. 21, 1964 5. 5. FORRESTER 3,118,203

FASTENING DEVICE Filed June 15, 1961 Tic. El

- INVENTOR. 01/1/15 5 flezfsree United States Patent 3,118,293 FASTENEJG DEVliIE Clive B. Forrester, Miami, Fla, assignor to Talon, Inc, a corporation of Pennsylvania Filed lune 15, 1961, Ser. No. 117,323 Claims. (Cl. 2458) This invention relates to fastening devices particularly adaptable for shoes and the like or" the type disclosed in my Patent No. 2,969,573, dated January 31, 1961.

In such a fastening device, there is provided generally a resilient wire member bent to substantially V-shape so as to provide a pair of spaced-apart arm-like portions integrally connected together at one end by a transversely extending trunnion portion. There is hingedly attached to this trunnion, a bearing-like portion arranged at one end of a manipulating or actuating member. Between the manipulating member and the resilient arm portion there is arranged an adjustable yoke-like member having one end thereof pivotally attached to the inner side of the manipulating member intermediate the length thereof. On the opposite end of this rigid member there is arranged a pair of spaced-apart hook-like portions which slidably engage the arm-like portions of the wire member whereby the arm-like portions are moved toward or away from one another upon movement of the manipulating member.

While the fastening device disclosed in the aforesaid Forrester patent has proven to be practical and functions satisfactorily, it consists of a multiplicity of parts which are diflicult and expensive to fabricate and assemble.

Accordingly, it is th general object of the present invention to provide an improved fastening device of the type disclosed in the aforesaid Forresterpatent consisting of a minimum number or" parts which may be easily and inexpensively fabricated and assembled.

It is a more specific object of the invention to provide an improved fastening device of the type described in which all of the parts are made of Wire bent and shaped so as to provide a strong and rugged construction and a fastening device which is eliicient and effective in its use.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a fastening device of the type disclosed having means arranged therewith for securely locking tire assembly in its closed position and a fastening device which may be easily and quickly assembled in the shoe or other article with which it is to be used.

Various other objects and advantages or" this invention will be more apparent in the course of the following specification, and will be particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

in the accompanying drawings, there is shown for the purpose of illustration, several embodiments which my invention may assume in practice.

In these drawings:

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary plan view of a shoe having the improved fastening device of the present invention incorporated therewith and showing it in its fully closed position,

FIG. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary plan view of the shoe similar to FIG. 1 showing the fastening device in its fully open position,

FIG. 3 is a side view of the shoe with the fastening device therein as shown in FIG. 1, and

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken on line 4-4 of HG. 1.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, the improved fastening device of my invention consists of a relatively stifi resilient wire member 2 made of spring steel or some other suitable material which is bent to substantially V-s'nape so as to provide a pair of spaced-apart illdfid lc Patented Jan. 2i, 129 54 arm portions 9 and 4 integrally connected together at the lower end thereof by means of a deformed transversely extending portion 5.

Each of the arm portions 3 and i of the wire member 2 are preferably reversely bent, as at 6, so as to provide arm-like portions 7 and 8 which are spaced from the respective arms 3 and 4. On the free end of each of these arm-like portions 7 and 8, there is formed a hookdike portion 9 and ill, respectively, which detachably engage and cooperate with the wire member 2 at the lower ends of the respective arms 3 and 4 thereof adjacent the transversely extending portion 5 at each side thereof to form in cooperation with the respective arms 3 and 4 a closed loop-like portion, as more clearly shown in PEG. 2 of the drawings for the purpose of attaching the assembly to a shoe.

There is provided an elongated manipulating member 12 which is also preferably formed from relatively stiff wire but may be made from any other suitable material. This manipulating mein er in the present instance is shown as being made of a length of wire bent upon itself and has a loop-like portion 13 arranged in one end thereof so as to provide diverging arm-like portions l4 interconnected at the extreme end thereof by means of a transversely extending arcuated trunnion portion 15. On the opposite end of this manipulating member 12, there is arranged preferably a circular ring-like finger piece 16 so as to form a handle for the purpose of grasping this end of the manipulating member for actuating -ne same to open and close the fastener.

The transverse extending portion 5 of the Wire memoer 2 is deformed and twisted or wound around the transverse trunnion portion 15 of a manipulating member 12 so as to form a pair of spaced apart coil-like spring arrangements, each of which consists of a plurality of convolutions 17 arranged in side by side relation at each side thereof whereby a coil-like spring arrangement is provided at each side which are interconnected centrally by an inwardly extending loop-like portion 18. The outer convolution of each of these coil-like spring arrangements cooperate with the respective arm-like portions 14- of the loop-like portion 13 of the manipulating member 12 in a manner and for a purpose hereinafter to be described.

The fastening device is assembl d in the shoe in the following anner. There is shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 of the draw' s a shoe having the usual front instep opening, side instep or flap portions 19 and 2% to either side of the pening and an inner tongue T. The edges of these flap portions 19 and 2t? bordering the opening are preferably folded upon themselves so as to provide longitudinally extending slots or openings 23 and 22, respectively, between the folds of the flaps which slots extend throughout the length of the opening and the flap portions, as more clearly shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 or" the drawings.

In assembling the fastening device in the shoe, the arm-like portions 7 and 3 are inserted into the upper end of the respective slots 21 and 22 in the flap portions of the shoe and moved therethrough until the extreme outer ends thereof carrying the respective hook-like portions 9 and 1t extend beyond the lower ends of the respective slots. The hook-like portions 9 and ill are then moved to position between the arm portions 3 and 4 of the wire member so that these hook-shaped portions are disposed around and engage the lower portions of the arm portions adjacent the transverse portion 5. As a result, it will be seen that each of the arm-like members 7 and 8 in cooperation with the respective arm portions 3 and 4 form a closed loop-like portion at each side of the shoe opening so as to securely attach the fastening device to the shoe. To remove the assembly from the shoe, the reverse procedure is followed.

Now the operation of my improved fastening device will be described. it will be assumed that the fastening device is in its fully open position, as shown in FIG. 2 of the drawings. in order to close the fastener the finger piece or handle 16 is grasped and the manipulating member 12 moved toward the opening in the shoe and the tongue T about its pivotal connection with the transverse portion 5 of the wire member 2. in its movement to such position, it will be understood that the armlihe portions 14 of the loop-like portion 13 of the manipulating member 12 contact the respective outer convolutions 17 of the respective coil-like spring arrangements to either side of the transverse portion 5 so as to force the coil-like spring arrangements toward one another against the resilient action thereof, thereby gradually moving the arm portions 3 and 4 together with the marginal edges of flap portions 19 and 29 toward one another over the shoe opening.

That is to say, as the manipulating member 12 is actuated and moved tow rd its closed position from its open position, as shown in FIG. 2, the transverse arcuated trunnion portion 15 carried thereby will be rotated relative to the pair of coil-like spring arrangements positioned tnerearound so as to force the convolutions 17 thereof together whereby the arms 3 and 4 are caused to be forced toward each other.

When the manipulating member 12 has been moved to its fully closed position, as shown in FIGS' 1, 3 and 4 of the drawings, it will be seen that this member is substantially parallel to the arm portions 3 and 4 of the wire member 2. As the manipulating member 12 reaches its fully closed position the loop-like portion 13 of the transverse portion 5 of the wire member 2 moves upwardly between the arm-like portions 14 of the looplike portion 13 of the manipulating member 12 and cooperate with the inner sides of these arm-like portions to hold the manipulating member securely in its closed position, as more clearly shown in FIG. 4 of the drawings. That is to say, this looplike portion 13 is moved into engagement with the arm-like portion 14 by a snapping action due to the resilient action of the wire members.

To open the fastening device the reverse procedure is followed and the arm portions 3 and 4 of the wire member 2 together with the flap portions 19 and 2b are moved to their spread or fully open position due to the action of the coil-like spring arrangements provided by the convolutions 17 of the transverse portion 5 of the wire member 2.

As a result of my invention, it will be seen that there is provided a simple and inexpensive fastening device made solely of wire which can be easily bent and formed with simple and inexpensive equipment whereby a fastening device is provided consisting of a minimum number of parts.

While I have shown and described an embodiment which my invention may assume in practice, it will be understood that this embodiment is merely for the purpose of illustration and description, and that other forms may be devised within the scope of my invention as delined in the appended claims.

What I claim as my invention is:

1. in a fastening device, a resilient wire member bent to a substantially -shape so as to provide a pair of spaced-apart arm portions integrally connected together at one end by a transversely extending portion, means carried by each of said arm-like portions for attaching the same to edges of an opening adapted to be closed, an elongated manipulating member having a loop-like portion arranged on one end thereof so as to provide an arcuated transversely extending trunnion portion, the transversely extending portion of said wire member being deformed and twisted around said transversely extending trunnion portion of said manipulating member so as to provide a pair of spaced-apart coil-like spring arrangements, each of which consists of a plurality of convolutions arranged in side by side relation whereby a coil-like spring arrangement is provided at each side of said arcuated transversely extending trunnion portions so that said manipulating member is pivotally attached to said wire member at the arcuated transversely extending portion thereof, and means for locking the manipulating member in its closed position substantially parallel to the arms of said wire member.

2. The combination as defined in claim 1, wherein the means for locking the manipulating member in its closed position substantially parallel to the arms of said wire member consists of a loop-like portion formed in the wire member centrally of the transversely extending portion, the outer sides of which engage and cooperate with the inner sides of the loop-like portion of said manipulating member.

3. The combination as defined in claim 1, wherein the elongated manipulating member consists of a length of wire formed so as to provide a loop-like portion on one end thereof having diverging arm-like portions interconnected at the extreme end thereof by a transversely extending trunnion portion and a handle portion extending outwardly from said loop-like portion.

4. In a fastening device of the class described, a resilient wire member bent to a substantially V-shape so as to provide a pair of spaced-apart arm portions integrally connected together at one end by a transversely extending portion, the free end of each of said arm portions being reversely bent so as to form in cooperation therewith a loop-like portion on the outer side of each of said arm portions, and means arranged on the extreme outer ends of each of said reversely bent portions which detachably engage said wire member adjacent said transversely extending portion to each side thereof to form a closed loop, an elongated manipulating member having a loop-like portion arranged on one end thereof so as to provide a transversely extending trunnion portion, the transversely extending portion of said wire member being deformed and twisted around said transversely extending trunnion portion of said manipulating member so as to provide a plurality of convolutions arranged in side by side relation whereby a coil-like spring arrangement is provided at each side thereof and said manipulating member is pivotally attached to said wire member at the transversely extending portion thereof, and means for locking the manipulating member in its closed position substantially parallel to the arms of said wire member.

5. The combination as defined in claim 4, wherein the means for locking the manipulating member in its closed position substantially parallel to the arms of said wire member consists of a loop-like portion formed in the wire member centrally of the transversely extending portion, the outer sides of which engage and cooperate with the inner sides of the loop-like portion of said manipulating member.

6. The combination as defined in claim 4, wherein the elongated manipulating member consists of a length of wire formed so as to provide a loop-like portion on one end thereof having diverging arm-like portions interconnected at the extreme end thereof by a transversely extending trunnion portion and a handle portion extending outwardly from said loop-like portion.

7. In a fastening device of the class described, a resilient wire member bent to a substantially V -shape so as to provide a pair of spaced-apart arm portions integrally connected together at one end by a transversely extending portion, means carried by each of said arm-like portions for attaching the same to edges of an opening adapted to be closed, an elongated manipulating member having a loop-like portion arranged on one end thereof so as to provide a pair of spaced-apart diverging arm-like portions interconnected at the extreme end by a transversely extending arcuated trunnion portion, the transversely extending portion of said wire member being deformed so as to provide a plurality of convolutions disposed around the transversely extendin trunnion portion of said manipulating member whereby a coil-like spring arrangement is provided at each side of said arcuated transversely extending portion, the arm-like portions of the loop-like portion adapted to cooperate with the respective outer convolutions of the respective coil-like spring arrangements so as to be forced thereagainst to load the same when the manipulating member is moved toward and to its closed position substantially parallel to the arm portions of said wire member whereby the arm portions of said wire memher are moved toward one another and permitted to move away from one another due to the action of the coil-like spring arrangements when the manipulating member is moved toward and to its open position.

8. The combination as defined in claim 7, including the means for locking the manipulating member in its closed position substantially parallel to the arms of said Wire member consisting of a loop-like portion formed in the wire member centrally of the transversely extending portion, the outer sides of which engage and cooperate with the inner sides of the loop-like portion or" said manipulating member.

9. in a fastening device of the class described, a resilient wire member bent to a substantially V-shape so as to provide a pair of spaced-apart arm portions integrally connected together at one end by a transversely extending portion, the free end of each of said arm portions being reversely bent so as to form in cooperation therewith a loop-like portion on the outer side of each of said arm portions, and means arranged on the extreme outer ends of each of said reversely bent portions which detachably engage said wire member adjacent said transversely extend ng portion to each side thereof to form a closed loop, an elongated manipulating member having a looplike portion arranged on one end thereof so as to provide a pair of spaced-apart diverging arm-like portions interconnected at the extreme end by a transversely extending arcuated trunnion portion, the transversely extending portion of said wire member being deformed so as to provide a plurality of convolutions disposed around the transversely extending trunnion portion of said manipulating member whereby a coil-like spring arrangement is provided at each side of said arcuate transversely extending portion, the arm-like portions of the loop-like portion adapted to cooperate with the respective outer convolutions of the respective coil-like spring arrangements so as to be forced thereagainst to load the same when the manipulating member is moved toward and to its closed position substantially parallel to the arm portions of said wire member whereby the arm portions of said wire member are moved toward one another and permitted to move away from one another due to the action of the coil-like spring arrangements when the manipulating member is moved toward and to its open position.

10. The combination as defined in claim 9, including means for locking the manipulating member in its closed position substantially parallel to the arms of said wire member consisting of a loop-like portion formed in the wire member centrally of the transversely extending portion, the outer sides of which engage and cooperate with the inner sides of the loop-like portion of said manipulating member.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

1. IN A FASTENING DEVICE, A RESILIENT WIRE MEMBER BENT TO A SUBSTANTIALLY V-SHAPE SO AS TO PROVIDE A PAIR OF SPACED-APART ARM PORTIONS INTEGRALLY CONNECTED TOGETHER AT ONE END BY A TRANSVERSELY EXTENDING PORTION, MEANS CARRIED BY EACH OF SAID ARM-LIKE PORTIONS FOR ATTACHING THE SAME TO EDGES OF AN OPENING ADAPTED TO BE CLOSED, AN ELONGATED MANIPULATING MEMBER HAVING A LOOP-LIKE PORTION ARRANGED ON ONE END THEREOF SO AS TO PROVIDE AN ARCUATED TRANSVERSELY EXTENDING TRUNNION PORTION, THE TRANSVERSELY EXTENDING PORTION OF SAID WIRE MEMBER BEING DEFORMED AND TWISTED AROUND SAID TRANSVERSELY EXTENDING TRUNNION PORTION OF SAID MANIPULATING MEMBER SO AS TO PROVIDE A PAIR OF SPACED-APART COIL-LIKE SPRING ARRANGEMENTS, EACH OF WHICH CONSISTS OF A PLURALITY OF CONVOLUTIONS ARRANGED IN SIDE BY SIDE RELATION WHEREBY A COIL-LIKE SPRING ARRANGEMENT IS PROVIDED AT EACH SIDE OF SAID ARCUATED TRANSVERSELY EXTENDING TRUNNION PORTIONS SO THAT SAID MANIPULATING MEMBER IS PIVOTALLY ATTACHED TO SAID WIRE MEMBER AT THE ARCUATED TRANSVERSELY EXTENDING PORTION THEREOF, AND MEANS FOR LOCKING THE MANIPULATING MEMBER IN ITS CLOSED POSITION SUBSTANTIALLY PARALLEL TO THE ARMS OF SAID WIRE MEMBER. 